Democracy nearing consolidation: study

FINAL PHASE:For the study, researchers processed data from 1996 on democracies across the world to assess Taiwan using three indicators of democratic consolidation

By Shih Hsiu-chuan / Staff reporter

His study found that polarization in Taiwan has been consistent over the period of the survey, varying only marginally. While the country is heading in the direction of increased polarization, the incremental increase is small, he said.

Overall, the level of party polarization in Taiwan is lower than in other democracies, McAllister said.